Spoon House Korean Cuisine and Cocktails

I frequently walk through downtown Chula Vista and decided to give Spoon House Korean Kitchen a try. From the street, their A-frame sign advertising an enticing happy hour—$8 margaritas—caught my eye. In the mood for some comforting Korean dishes, I went in with hopeful expectations. I ordered a margarita and the Korean fried wings. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. The margarita arrived glowing bright green, clearly made with a cheap pre-made mix rather than fresh ingredients. The server informed me the wings would take a bit longer since they’re twice-fried, which I appreciated—I’m always happy to wait for extra crispy wings glazed in a proper sweet and spicy Korean sauce. However, what I received fell far short. While the wings had a crispy texture, the sauce was lackluster and lazily poured over the top instead of being properly tossed and coated. This business has potential due to its prime location in the heart of downtown Chula Vista, especially since there are no other comparable Asian cuisine spots nearby. However, there were too many red flags to overlook. The restaurant was noticeably empty, and after my experience, I understood why. They advertise free billiards—an odd attraction for a Korean restaurant—and have a side party room available to rent for $100. The food and drink program both need serious improvement, and even the name, "Spoon House," feels more fitting for a soup spot or an American diner than a Korean establishment. Ultimately, I have no plans to return and would recommend exploring other dining options instead.

I would like to say thank you for making my game of pool present along with the service that was provided during my time here. So if your looking to have a bite to eat this is one spot I could recommend also if your looking to play a partner a game of pool great pool table along with the sticks

Best boba and a hot, satisfying bowl of bulgogi sundobu in the middle of the day at this welcoming family restaurant. It’s also a great place to gather with friends for a game of pool and play your brand of music on a high tech digital juke box after hours. Check out the menu online.

Wow. Never would have I thought I’d find great Korean food in Chula Vista. We were warmly greeted and welcomed by Nick, who was so friendly. He told us we could sit wherever we wanted. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and clean. There’s a pool table and tv playing music. My dad would’ve appreciated the 80’s hits being played. There’s also a full bar. We ordered our food through a QR code. Our selections were; bulgogi fries (my favorite), Ramen with bulgogi and an egg, and chicken bibimbap bowl for my husband. The bulgogi on the French fries were marinated soooo good. I loved the flavor. The sauce topped on it was fire too. The fries were cooked to crisp perfection. At first, I thought the ramen was ok. It came out piping how and was steaming until the end of our dinner. But I took it home for leftovers and it was a great decision. The bulgogi was tender and the flavors aren’t too salty. The bibimbap bowl was a great choice for my husband. He cleaned that bowl up. Whenever we’re craving Korean food again, we’ll come to Spoon House :)

After driving by so frequently, I decided to stop in. The food was so rich and delicious. I really enjoyed and would recommend the rice cake/fish cake appetizer and the ramen. (I got it not spicy, but you can order spicy) The broth of the ramen was really savory! Also, a full bar is a bonus. We had the margarita and the Paloma. Hopefully, they can, in the future, further expand a possible cocktail menu?? Just a thought😋

Food was extremely bland, we ordered bulgogi (it was not good), korean chicken (wrong sauce used, was almost like they used tomato puree), spicy pork was decent. All in all this wasn't authentic korean food in my opinion. Price was high as well, portions are small, and they don't give the korean side dishes like kitchen and bean sprouts.

My sister recommended this restaurant and I can’t thank her enough. I have picked up my orders to go and everyone is so friendly and the food is amazing. My husband and I will be back to dine in soon. 10/10 without a doubt!

A new Korean spot in CV….yes please!!! My favorite food (after Mexican). And the food is delicious! My daughter and I got the bibimbap and the mandu. Seriously some of the best I’ve had. I’ve eaten at almost every Korean restaurant on Convoy area. I must say this is up there as the best. The portions are large too! The staff are friendly and welcoming, the restaurant is very clean, we feel at home. Photo: The portions are so large I brought leftovers to work. Yummy!!!

Delicious Korean food spot with full bar. Went on a Sunday night in November, place was mostly empty. They stay open until midnight. I had ramen and Tera beer. My wife had wings and a Moscow Mule. Ramen was divine!!! Absolutely perfect. There was a healthy amount of meat, the egg was still jammy on the inside. And the broth was succulent. Wings were crispy in a spicy sauce. Definitely will return.

The Spicy Ramen and the Spicy Korean Chicken Wings are my go-to order at this restuarant. They are always consistently good. I love the vibe of this restaurant and the friendliness of the staff. Plus it was really close to my apartment. This is a great place to have a quick meal. Parking is metered or you can park for free on the street around the corner. Across the street is an amazing dessert place too.

I ordered takeout from this location. Plenty of street parking out front but it is paid. We tried the bulgogi fries and Sundubu with beef. I really enjoyed my soup, I thought the flavor was good and there is a good amount of beef and tofu in it. It came with a side a rice. I thought the bulgogi on the fries was good. We added cheese to our order and in the future I would probably order without because I wasn't a huge fan of the cheese they used. The portion was good though! They asked if I wanted the kimchi with the fries which I did so I'm not sure if it comes with it as a baseline but it really added to the fries.

Monica was so nice, she had us laughing, I asked her name and told she's the owner So we said you do it all here, yes! I'm the Cook, Clean, Bouncer, Bartender, Security!! It was our first visit here, We both had beef bibimbap x2 I don't do eggs so I gave my to my lady.. The food was fresh and tasty I was happy we meet Monica We'll be by again to try the wings and other Foods for sure

My wife and I love this place great tasting beef bulgogi , the Korean hot wings will not disappoint, daughter loves the fried mandu. For those of you who have never tried Korean food come out of your comfort zone and give them a try have a drink enjoy the little spot play a game of pool and relax , the music is always great and service is good. Let's keep 3rd Ave alive with a good diverse mix of flavors and choices come out and support these guys you will not be disappointed.

yummy food, we walked in randomly and it was such a nice vibe. The lady who helped us out was really friendly and sweet.

It seems like this place can't find it's identity. They're trying things out and trying to keep up with 3rd avenues booming bar scene. HOWEVER. They no longer serve Soju cocktails. Something I thought set this place apart. Now they only offer bottled flavor soju which is too much for me sometimes and I prefer just ordering a cocktail so I don't get drunk too fast. The yokult soju cocktail was something that was really unique for 3rd ave that I would come here specifically for. I mentioned in my last review that the bulgogi fries were over priced. Theres no changing that from a business prospective I get it, but will probably make me come here less.! And they have not really added anything to the menu either so it feels like when I come here I have limited options. I would love for this place to be more authentically Korean and stay in business! But I can see the struggle in real time...

Wow. Never would have I thought I'd find great Korean food in Chula Vista. We were warmly greeted and welcomed by Nick, who was so friendly. He told us we could sit wherever we wanted. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and clean. There's a pool table and tv playing music. My dad would've appreciated the 80's hits being played. There's also a full bar. We ordered our food through a QR code. Our selections were; bulgogi fries (my favorite), Ramen with bulgogi and an egg, and chicken bibimbap bowl for my husband. The bulgogi on the French fries were marinated soooo good. I loved the flavor. The sauce topped on it was fire too. The fries were cooked to crisp perfection. At first, I thought the ramen was ok. It came out piping how and was steaming until the end of our dinner. But I took it home for leftovers and it was a great decision. The bulgogi was tender and the flavors aren't too salty. The bibimbap bowl was a great choice for my husband. He cleaned that bowl up. Whenever we're craving Korean food again, we'll come to Spoon House :)

Very good food. We did pickup and had their fries with steak, Korean pancakes and chicken bimbibap. All very tasty and good service. Will be going back for sure!!!

I got the beef bibimbap to go for $20. I did come in the early afternoon, so there weren't many people eating there and it was pretty empty with not many tables or seats around. There is a pool table off to the side too. It's hard to imagine this being a place for cocktails, but I'm here in the daytime for the food so I don't really care. The food only took about 10 minutes to come out ready to go in a to-go box, and the lady serving up front was nice. The flavors aren't bad, loved the mix of gochujang and sesame oil, but I only took off a star because it was not that filling, wish there was more beef, rice, and veggies. Comes with one sunny side up egg as well.

This is my go to fix! I love the Bibibop bowl with either chicken or beef and the bulgogi fries are something to try! Other than that we love getting the ramen! Great location and a large space. Highly recommend this Chula Vista gem! The owner is a sweetheart, excellent service!

Love the service, atmosphere and Best Bulgogi in Chula Vista! Had the spicy Bulgogi Ramen and fries as well are 10/10 so delicious. Full bar definitely coming back.

Came here on a Friday for lunch. Parking was super easy - it was paid meter parking right in front. I got the Bulgogi Ramen with Egg! Service was great!

We were excited to try this restaurant, after moving away from a favorite called Spoon in Berkeley. When we arrived, we were the first customers for lunch at about noon. We ordered hot green tea, water, two bibimbap dishes, a scallion pancake for the toddler, and a bowl of ramen. Then we waited. And waited. The tortilla arrived alone after 20 minutes or so, with a few napkins and one fork. No plates, tea or water at this point. We had to ask for plates and utensils. Eventually we asked for the tea and water. Food took more than 45 minutes! For simple fare like bibimbap and egg ramen, that's absurd. The food was just ok, nothing special. I can't recommend based on this experience. Other diners who ordered not long after us were still waiting when we left. But to be fair, we wolfed down our food because the wait consumed most of our allotted time. Boo.

Cozy with pool table. Food is fast and delicious. Very home made style. Meter parking.

My review is for service, venue and Thai tea. I haven't tried the food (yet). The restaurant itself is very clean and decorated nicely. I think they need more advertisement though. I walk by and it always seems empty. I fear for their survival in the south bay, as Mexican food is always the surviving food type. I hope they make it, because we need variety. The woman who helped us was very kind and welcoming. She was the only one there in the middle of the day. She took time to answer questions about some of the dishes. We were in the middle of a walk, so we didn't stay to eat, but we did grab a Thai tea for the road. I've tried many Thai teas and I think this the best I've had in the Chula Vista area.

Service was quick, the server was very friendly and kept asking us how our food was. Food always tastes great here. The ambiance is very chill and relaxing. 10/10 would recommend coming

Great place to eat first time eating Korean food very delicious. Had the chicken.Bibimap bowl. It was great. The lady that owns and runs a place super nice and she does everything herself.

Cute korean restaraunt/bar on 3rd! The food here is solid and they also have a pool table here. Will be coming back when im in the area!

came here tonight almost till closing, and was greeted by two very nice ladies. we got some drinks and played a round of pool with their brand new pool table. It was so fun and Monica, who I assume is the owner was so funny and sweet. The decor is modern and the restaurant is very clean. We'll definitely be back to try their food!

My friend and I went at the beginning at the moment. We were told that the place has only been opened for four weeks. Decor - Very Sparse Full Bar - Big Plus QR Code for menu- Took a minute for the menu to come up and you have to click on "skip advertisement". Better to look on the board in the front for the updates. Spicy chicken wings- Bold and flavorful but needed to be more crispy and spicier (level 3). Scallion pancake- Good but needed to be more crispier and undercook in the middle. Hot stone soup- It was misleading on the menu as it only stated the soup contained tofu, zucchini and onion. Since there was no protein, we asked for shrimp. After getting it and noticing there was meat, we were told that it is actually cooked in pork broth and some pork may be in it. We also didn't get shrimp as requested. The soup itself was lacking flavor. Bulgogi fries (on the board): Overall, this was our favorite. Meat was flavor well. Fries weren't too big and crispy. The sauce had some spicy. House red sauce was really good. We had mango margarita. We were told that it would be $8. When we got the bill, it was additional $2. When we asked another the charge, we were told it was $2 extra for the agave and mango purée because they are expensive. Also, the price of a bottle of soju should've been listed. Other beers were going for $5-7. $10.95 for a bottle and with no other flavor selection seems pretty pricey. Our server, Esteban, was great Overall, I see potential in this place and hope it continues to improve.

Food is delicious! Vibe is right, pool table in middle and a musoc player. Recommend the bulgogi fries.

I am baffled by the almost 5 stars this business receives on yelp. We dined at lunch and we were the 1st ones in the restaurant. It's quite a simple interior but I'm more about the food so that didn't bother me. I have been to Korea and eaten Korean food many times. I know what bibimbap tastes like. Unfortunately, the pork bibimbap arrived very tepid. The egg in fact was cold. This dish is normally served on hot plate to get the rice nice and crusted and the egg will continue to cook in the hot plate. This was served in a bowl and since it arrived almost cold the egg did not continue to cook. Plus the taste was way off from authentic bibimbap. Husband's beef bibimbap was slightly better and warmer. Still the flavors were not right. The bulgogi fries were much better but not nearly worth $16. At half the price it would have been ok. Two dishes and the fries with one soda came to $65.

Really great spot off third avenue and definitely easy to miss if you're not looking for it. I pretty much walked in on a whim cause ya girl was HONGRY. The space itself is very open and has plenty of natural lighting which I loved. I went in the middle of the day and it wasn't busy at all. I ordered the beef bibimbap to go and it was surprisingly A LOT of food and had a lot of flavor; I was pleasantly surprised. Oop! And although I didn't get a drink this time, keep in mind, they have a full bar ;)

We love nearby and hadn't tried this place yet so we were super excited. It was very clean inside and had nice decorations, not too cluttered. They have a jukebox so if you're near one of the speakers it will be pretty loud. The chairs are surprisingly comfortable. That's not usually something I pay attention to, but these chairs were nice. We order the fried mandu for the table. I forgot to take a picture before they were almost all gone! They were nice and light. My spouse got the beef bulgogi plate and was very happy. She said the meat was slightly sweeter than she expected, but their homemade hot sauce is AMAZING! That was the true highlight. She needs to bottle and sell it because I'd put it on almost everything I eat. I ordered the bulgogi fries. The white sauce on it was slightly sweet, a little spicy, and completely delicious. The fries were fried and salted well. Our waiter was kind and courteous. He explained the condiments he brought out and let us know all our food might not all come out at the same time as the owner is the only cook in the back. Our point of frustration is that they couldn't split our bill by what each of our smaller parties ordered. They could only split it evenly 4 ways even though that meant everyone would be paying either way more or less than their fair share. I haven't had that happen since the early 00s, so just be aware if you want to bring a group.

Highly recommend the food, so tasty and clean. The lady that helped us was so friendly. It is not a busy place but if you want good Korean food I highly recommend.

I ordered the Beef Sundubu (spicy tofu soup) and was surprised to find it quite different from traditional Korean tofu soup. It seemed like they added Bulgogi to the soup, which was unexpected and shocking for both me and my husband. If you're Korean or looking for an authentic Korean tofu soup experience, I wouldn't recommend this place.

I really do want this place to get recognition. It's a very quite and simple place needing costumers. It's a somewhat new place on 3rd Ave with delicious authentic Korean food. We haven't explored that much on the menu yet but I do recommend the ramen. They give you a platter of vegetables to add to your soup and give you different options of creating your soup. The broth is absolutely amazing. We also recommend the spicy Korean chicken wings. They had a savory crunch to it.

The menu and Yelp reviews looked great but when we arrived during lunch hour the place was empty. Very clean and orderly but quiet and empty, we ordered the big tofu soup and the bulgogi plate. The soup was bland but once we put some provided sesame oil and soy sauce it started to taste like something but I would not order it again. Maybe we are spoiled by the bulgogi back in Orange County but this dish lacked flavor too. No char on the meat and no variation in texture. I was surprised by the lack of sides so the owner brought out a tray of three sides for us to try. They were very good as was the steamed cooked spinach side that came with the bulgogi. For the prices here, I would expect larger portions or higher quality food. The service and cleanliness was 5/5.

The ramen had a very good flavor. Ordered the bulgogi ramen and would recommend. The dumpling appetizer came with like 8 which I thought was a bit too many. There should be an option for 1/2 order. Service was great as they were very attentive and quick to take our order. Pretty cool that they have a full bar since most places on 3rd Ave only serve beer.

We came back tonight to try the ramen. GinaBee had the Ramen with boiled egg and Bulgogi and I had the Ramen with boiled egg and Chicken. We chose mild flavor but it still had a little kick. We liked it! The gentleman remembered us from our last visit. Very hospitable. Comfortable and quiet place.

My wife and I who is Korean had dinner there last night. Place was empty except for 1 customer which was a shame because the food was excellent. My wife who is very picky really enjoyed her bibimpap and I had tha spicy chicken wings which were very meaty and delicious. Highly recommended this place really don't want to see it fail. Beef Bibimbap Korea Spicy Chicken

I am glad I stopped by and ate here. It was a bite of nostalgia that I didn't know I needed. Having once lived with a Korean host family, I've searched for a Japchae that came close. After over 15 years, I had given up, but I think I found it. It's not exact, but it was delicious nonetheless. The accompanying photo is my to go order. I couldn't leave without another to take home! Thank you to Ms. Monica who was a friendly host and treated me very kindly. I highly recommend this place!

We came on a Thursday afternoon and it was empty. Parking is a hit or miss because it's street parking. We ordered the soup, ttekboki, bulgogi fries, and wings. The sauce for the bulgogi fries are hella bomb, worth ordering again. Everything else was just all right. Pricing is reasonable for what you get. The service was nice, the owner is really sweet.

My friend and I went late afternoon, I'd say around 2:30pm this is located in a Chula Vista downtown area. There are a lot of side parking, both paid and free parking. The restaurant looks really simple and clean when you walk in. There are plants by the big glass windows and some tables by them as well. Since it wasn't as busy, they let you ring the bell by the register so that they can help you out. The wait wasn't that long to be honest, we rang it and they came right away. We ordered soft tofu soup with rice. My friend enjoyed it a lot, she said it was hot and still tastes fresh hehehe. I ordered the scallion pancake and Bulgogi fries, the pancake is good and a nice shareable snack. I didn't expect the fries to be spicy but that's just my low tolerance in spiciness but with the spiciness is a flavorful seasoned fries and beef! I just needed to suck it up and eat it beside it was sooo good! We also love it's location as other stores are nearby and walkable.

Single korean lady working hard to provide a delicious meal. I hope this place does well.

Best boba ever nice lady best ramen ever been here two time never fails have patience everyone treats u well

Good is good and all I lowkey found a piece of fiber in my soup but it was still good I payed 22 dollars for two things portions are pretty good considering in what part of Chula Vista your in

Best Bulgogi fries in Chula Vista! Our waiter, Esteban is the best. Super efficient, friendly, and welcoming. #supportlocal

Me and my wife love coming to this place, the food is always so good and flavorful, I don't know why it's taken me so long to write a review. Everyone should try this place when they when they come to 3rd ave!

Visiting from Idaho and this is HANDS DOWN THE BEST ramen we have ever had! Highly recommended!!!

Okay, on a Sunday afternoon it is completely empty. Not the restaurants fault they might just need better advertising. I've walked past this spot a few times since a they opened but never ventured in. Let me start off with saying they have real liquor...and at a good price.. our sever Esteban was amazing!! Very knowledgeable & welcoming. We got a dirty martini (he immediately asked me gin or vodka, which told me he knew his way around a bar) The bibimpap rice bowl & spicy Ramen w chicken. Let me tell you guys everything was fucking fireeee. Everything was so flavorful & authentically freshly made. Estabans service with a breath of fresh air. Definitely going to come back. If you guys are looking for a spot to try out, let it be this one, you won't be disappointed

Definitely recommend this place Monica is really nice and welcoming gotta try the bulgogi fries, burrito coming soon ,never disappoints!!!

Chula Vista hidden gem. Great food and the owner was very kind and helpful. I recommend this place to people coming to Chula Vista.

Walked in one afternoon for some snacks and drinks. The restaurant had just been open for a month but immediately we felt very comfortable. The decor was simple but pleasant. There was a full bar with many counter seats in addition to dining tables. We got some drinks - Paloma, Mango Soju cocktail, and a Citron tea, all were great. The food was the star - bulgogi fries, Korean chicken wings were both amazing. The completely banchan were tasty as well. Overall definitely looking forward to returning for a full dinner some time

I had the Bibimpap beef rice bowl. I'd say it was okay at best, and the portion was much smaller than I expected. The wait time for my food was rather long, and I give the service a C+.

A vibe! Nik the bartender is awesome and the drinks are great, food looks really delicious I'll have to give it a go one of these days

My wife and I decided to try something new on our 3rd Avenue stomping ground. This place had friendly and attentive staff (not too tough as the two of us were half the customers but still nice.) The place was still new enough to still be decorating. I started with a Terra beer - traditional Korean beer...light, refreshing beer perfect for after mowing the lawn. Normally I would go for something darker but it's all they had and it seemed traditional. No complaints. Just like the Terra in Busan. Our appetizer was the Fried Mandu - excellent fried dumplings, nice and crispy with a great sauce to go with them. These were the highlight of the meal. For me it was the Bulgogi Tacos - quite tasty and refreshing with the house sauce. The corn tortillas were nothing to speak of, straight from the market. The beef was pretty good, but the veggies were quite nice. And surprisingly the French fries were a real highlight. I am for sure getting the bulgogi fries next time. My lovely wife had the Bibimpap with bulgogi - it was ok. Not awesome, but good. Nice presentation. The vegetables were a bit over cooked but ok. The beef was quite good. All in all a reasonable enough place we could come back to. That said, my Mexicana wife does make better Bulgogi but hey, that's more about her than the Spoon House.

The place is a hidden gem in Chula Vista. I stopped by and got Bim Bim Bap with 2 eggs it was delicious and healthy. The owner Monica was very nice. They place I very clean and they also have a pool table. Finally the price was very reasonable.